Arbitration – Preclusive effect

Where (1) a Superior Court jury found that the defendant had discriminated against and terminated the plaintiff on the basis of a perceived handicap and awarded her damages, (2) an arbitrator later concluded that the jury's verdict did not have preclusive effect and (3) a Superior Court judge reversed, finding that the arbitrator exceeded her authority by refusing to give preclusive effect to the jury's determination, the Superior Court judge’s ruling was erroneous and must be reversed.